By Gambo Jagingi
May 06, 2020
COVID-19: Youth task force advises FG to lockdown Abuja again
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Youth Task force on COVID-19 has advised the Federal Government to lockdown Abuja again to curtail further spread of the Covid-19.
Mr Ango Suleiman, Chairman of the taskforce, gave the advice at a news conference, on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that the advice had become necessary following the number of deaths so far recorded, while infectious cases had been on the increase on daily basis.
Suleiman said it had become obligatory for Federal Government to do the best for the people, not minding public opinion on the ease of the measures earlier put in place to slow the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to him, if those happy about the easing of lockdown will not rescind their stand and request the government to reverse to the status quo on the measures.
“The same people demanding for the ease of lockdown may come back to criticise and condemn the action of government when things go wrong.
“Therefore, the only option is doing whatever is best for the people,” he said.
He noted that the law enforcement agencies in Abuja were becoming overwhelmed and gradually loosing control of the people as a result of the lifting of lockdown which could lead to rapid spread of COVID-19 in the territory.
The chairman expressed the fear that if urgent steps were not taken to regulate movement in the territory, the aim of arresting the virus might be a mirage.
The youth leader emphasised that even though the demand for the ease of lockdown was loud and overwhelming, it was never a good decision, considering the influx of people into the city.
He cited massive gathering in banks and check points as well as public disobedience in observing safety measures to buttress his point.
He said that the repercussion of early lifting of the lockdown around the world were lesson to learn “as our peculiarity can never be excuse for our carelessness.”
Contributing, the spokesperson of FCT Natives, Mr Inusa Yusuf, called on banks to open all their branches locked up during the lockdown instead of opening few branches.
Yusuf said the development had encouraged public gathering and discourage social distancing and capable of spreading the virus.
He commended the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, for ensuring that the vulnerable residents of FCT benefit from the palliative programmes.
Yusuf said that the minister had ensured transparent and smooth implementation of the palliative by her physical presence in the field throughout the palliative programmes.